Building panel and side joints therefor

ABSTRACT

A BUILDING PANEL HAVING A CENTRAL PAN OF DESIRED PROFILE AND IMPROVED MARGINAL CONNECTING MEANS ALONG OPPOSITE PAN EDGES, PROVIDING AN IMPROVED SIDE JOINT BETWEEN ADJACENT ONES OF THE BUILDING PANELS. BOTH MARGINAL CONNECTING MEANS COMPRISE UPSTANDING U-SHAPED CHANNELS. ONE CHANNEL IS ADAPTED TO FIT WITHIN THE OTHER CHANNEL TO PROVIDE A GASKET-FREE, ESSENTIALLY WEATHER-TIGHT JOINT HAVING AN INTERLOCK TO PREVENT DISENGAGEMENT.

Sgpt. 21,1971 3,606,718

' I BUILDING PANEL 1ND SIDE JOINTS THEREFOR B1 1:. CURRAN 2-Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Aug '21, 1969 I 400 Fig I04 sac INVENTOR.

BERNARD E. LURRAN Sept. 21, 1971 gu BUILDING PANEL AND SIDE JOINTSTHEREFOR Filed Aug. 21,- 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 8.

Fig. N.

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INVEN TOR.

BERNARD E. CUR/PAN United States Patent 3,606,718 BUILDING PANEL ANDSIDE JOINTS THEREFOR Bernard E. Curran, Sewickley, Pa., assignor to H.H. Robertson Company, Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed Aug. 21, 1969, Ser. No.851,799 Int. Cl. E04c 1/10; F16b 5/07 U.S. Cl. 52-542 14 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the inventionThis invention relates to building panels of the type adapted to beerected in side-by-side interengaged relation to form a metal sheath ofa wall or roof structure, and more particularly to improved marginalconnecting means for such panels and improved side joints providedthereby.

(2) Description of the prior art The prior art contains many examples ofbuilding panels having marginal connecting means formed along oppositelongitudinal edges.

The most common marginal connecting means comprise an upstanding flangeor male lip along one edge and an inverted U-shaped channel or femalelip along the opposite edge. A bead of sealant material normally isprovided within the female lip. See U.S. Pat. 3,394,515. The jointformed between these lips has objectionable characteristics. Forexample, the male lip may move laterally within the female lip andtherefore a positive lock is difiicult to achieve. Lateral movement ofthe male lip inhibits the formation of a weather-tight seal. Dimples maybe formed in the mated lips for lock-ing the lips. See U.S. Pats.2,847,099 and 3,394,515. This is a costly operation and does not alwaysassure a positive lock. The dimples may affect the formation of aweather-tight joint.

In another male and female lip arrangement, a bead is roll formed in thefree edge of the male lip and opposed ribs are roll formed in thespaced-apart legs of the male lip. See Australian Pat. 251,978. As thebead is pushed between and beyond the opposed ribs, the male lip isengaged in the female lip by a snap action. Although this arrangementprevents lateral movement of the male lip within the female lip, it doesnot appear to provide a gasket-free weather-tight joint.

In a further male and female lip arrangement, the female lip comprisesan inverted channel formed along one edge of the panel; and the male lipcomprises an inverted channel formed inboard of the opposite edge of thepanel. Both inverted channels are provided with enlarged semicircularbights. The opposite edge of panel constitutes a nailing strip throughwhich nails are driven to secure the panel to supporting structure. SeeU.S. Pat. 2,159,136. One channel is adapted to fit within the otherchannel. Spring clamping members fit over the female channel to securethe interfitted channels together. This type of panel can only beerected with the channels exposed to view. Thus a plurality of thesepanels when erected, present standing rib joints having unsightly springclamping members exposed to View.

3,606,718 Patented Sept. 21, 1971 "ice SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Theprincipal objects of this invention are to provide a building panelhaving improved marginal connecting means and to provide an improvedside joint between adjacent ones of the building panels.

A further object of this invention is to provide a side joint comprisingfirst and second upstanding U-shaped channels which are so interlockedas to resist being disconnected when the panels are subjected tonegative wind loading.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved marginalconnecing means which are interengaged by a snap action and areself-locking, thereby eliminating the need for extrinsic fasteners orfastening tools.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a side jointbetween adjacent panels which is gasket-free and essentiallyweather-tight.

In accordance with the present invention, one of the marginal connectingmeans comprises a first upstanding U-shaped channel formed along oneedge of the central pan. The first channel includes spaced-apart firstinner and first outer legs extending toward the central pan.

The other marginal connecting means comprises a second upstandingU-shaped channel formed along the opposite edge of the central pan. Thesecond channel includes spaced-apart second inner and second outer legsextending toward the central pan. The first inner leg of the firstchannel and one of the legs of the second channel include, respectively,first and second upstanding flange portions each adjoining one of theopposite edges of the central pan.

The overall arrangement is such that the second channel is adapted to besnapped into the first channel, The first and second channels are shapedto present confronting segments providing an interlocking of thechannels which resists disengagement of the first channel from thesecond channel when the joint is subjected to negative wind loading.

Although not limited thereto, the present rib joints are particularlyeifective when the building wall panels are formed from material knownas protected metal sheathing. Such protected metal sheathing isdescribed and illustrated in U.S. Pat. 3,274,679. Such protected metalsheathing includes a tough weather-resistant outer coating. Whenemploying such protected metal sheathing, the resulting rib joint isgasket-free and essentially Weathertight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary isometric viewillustrating a typical building panel provided with the improvedmarginal connecting means of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view, on an en-' larged scale,illustrating the preferred embodiment of the improved marginalconnecting means of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a roof structureincorporating the building panel of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken along the line 55 of FIG.3, illustrating, on an enlarged scale, the formation of the standing ribjoint;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary isometric view of a wall structure incorporatingthe building panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6,illustrating a hidden joint formed by reversing the building panel ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 8, 10 and 12 are transverse cross-sectional views, similar to FIG.2, illustrating alternative embodiments of the marginal connecting meansof this invention; and

FIGS. 9, 11 and 13 are cross-sectional views, similar to FIG. 5,illustrating standing seam joints formed between a pair of the buildingpanels of FIGS. 8, 10 and 12, respectively.

3 DEscRirmroN OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates theprofile of: a typical building panel 20. The panel 20 includes a centralpan 22 having opposite faces 21, 23 and opposite longitudinal pan edges24, 26. First marginal connecting means 28, also characterized as afemale lip, is formed along the longitudinal pan edge 24. Secondmarginal connecting means 30, also characterized as a male lip, isformed along the opposite longitudinal pan edge 26.

The central pan 22 may have any desired profile. In FIG. 1, the centralpan 22 is corrugated and presents alternating crests 32 and valleys 34and inclined side walls 36 connecting adjacent ones of the crests 32 andvalleys 34. The central pan 22 also includes marginal valleys 38, 40presenting the opposite longitudinal pan edges 24, 26. It is to beunderstood that the building panel 20 may be erected with the face 21 asthe exposed face or with the face 23 as the exposed face. Thus thebuilding panel 20 may be erected with the valleys 34 and marginalvalleys 38, 40 engaging a support member whereby the marignal connectingmeans 28, 30 project outwardly away from the exposed face 21 and thesupport member.

Alternatively, the building panel 20 may be reversed such that thecrests 3'2 engage a support member whereby the marginal connecting means28, 30 project inwardly away from the hidden face 21 and toward thesupport member.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first marginal connecting means 28 comprises afirst upstanding U-shaped channel 42' including a bight 44 remote fromthe central pan 22 and first inner and first outer legs 46', 48extending from the bight 44 toward the central pan '22. A firstupstanding flange portion 50 adjoins the pan edge 24. A first strip 52has opposite edges adjoining the first upstanding flange portion 50 andthe first inner leg 46. The first strip 52 is generally parallel withthe valleys 34, 3-8, 40 and presents a shoulder 54 facing away from thevalleys 34, 38, 40. The first outer leg 48 terminates in a free edge 56which is spaced outwardly from the first upstanding flange portion 50 todefine a longitudinal opening 57.

The second marginal connecting means 30 comprises a second upstandingU-shaped channel 58 including a bight 60 remote from the central pan 22.and second inner and second outer legs 62, 64 extending from the bight60 toward the central pan 22. A second upstanding flange portion 66adjoins the pan edge 26. A second strip 68 has opposite edges adjoiningthe second upstanding flange portion 66 and the second inner leg 62. Thesecond outer leg 64 terminates in a second free edge 70 which is spacedoutwardly from the valleys 34, 38, 40.

It will be observed in FIG. 2 that the free edge 70 of the second outerleg 64 of the second channel 30 and the first strip 52 of the firstchannel 28 reside on opposite sides of a plane 71 which extends parallelwith, for example, the valleys 34 (FIG. 1) and the lateral valleys 38,40 of the central pan 22. Moreover, the free edge 70 and the first strip52 are proximate to the opposite sides of the plane 71. As willhereinafter be more fully described, the relative position of the freeedge 70 and the first strip 52 provides an interlock between the firstand second channels 28, 30 of adjacent building panels 20.

The first inner leg 46 and the first upstanding portion 50 of the firstchannel 28 present outer surfaces 72, 74, respectively, which areseparated by horizontal spacing indicated at 76. The second outer leg 64and the second upstanding flange portion 66 of the second channel 30present outer surfaces 78 80', respectively, which are separated byhorizontal spacing indicated at 82. In the preferred arrangement, thehorizontal spacing 76 is substantially equal to the horizontal spacing8'2 whereby when the first and second channels 42, 58 of adjacent onesof the building panels 20 are interengaged, the first and secondupstanding flange portion 50, 66 thereof will be disposed in opposedsubstantially abutted relation.

Roof structure FIG. 3 presents a roof structure 84 wherein only an outermetal sheath 186 and support means, such as a purlin 88, areillustrated. The outer metal sheath '86 com prises a plurality (in thisinstance a pair) of building panels 20A, 20B erected in side-by-siderelation With the valleys 34A, 34B and marginal valleys 40A, 38B thereofI engaging the purlin 88. The building panels 20A, 20B

are secured to the purlin 88 by fasteners 90. The first and secondmarginal connecting means of the building panels 20A, 20B are overlappedand interlocked to form a standing rib joint 92.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the manner in which the first and secondchannels 4213, 58A are interengaged to form the standing rib joint 92.In FIG. 4, the panel 20A has been erected and secured to the purlin 88.The panel 20B is erected by introducing the second channel 30A into thelongitudinal opening -57B. By pressing downwardly on the first channel42B, the first outer leg 48B thereof is deflected permitting the secondchannel 30A to enter and fit within the first channel 42B in the mannershown in FIG. 5. Thereafter, the .panel 20B is secured to the purlin 88by fasteners 90 (FIG. 3). When the erection of the panel 208 iscompleted, the first and second upstanding flange portions 50B, 66Athereof are disposed in opposed substantially abutted relation.

Comparing FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be seen that as the second channel 58Aenters the first channel 42B, the second outer leg 78A will also bedeflected. As the first channel 42B approaches the final positionillustrated in FIG. 5, the second free edge 70A of the second channel58A will clear the shoulder 54B of the first channel 42B, whereby thesecond outer leg 78A springs back to that position shown in FIG. 5.Accordingly, the second channel 58A is introduced into the first channel42B by a snap action.

The first and second marginal connecting means 28B, 30A are providedwith means 94 (FIG. 5) for interlocking the first and second channels42B, 58A to prevent disengagement thereof when the building panels 20A,20B are subjected to negative wind loading. Broadly in accordance withthe present invention, the means 94 comprises confronting segments ofthe first and second channels 42B, 58A. In the embodiment shown in FIG.5, the confronting segments consist of the shoulder 54B of the firstchannel 42B and the second free edge 70A of the second channel 58A.

Wall structure FIG. 6 presents a Wall structure 96 wherein only an outersheath 98 and support means, such as a subgirt 100, are illustrated. Theouter metal sheath 98 comprises a plurality (in this instance a pair) ofbuilding panels 20C, 20D erected in side-by-side relation. In thisarrangement, the building panels 20C, 20D are reversed such that thecrests 32C, 32D thereof engage the subgirt 100 and are secured theretoby the fasteners 90.

When the building panels 20C, 20D are erected as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,the first and second channels 42C, 58D thereof form a hidden rib joint102 extending inwardly toward the subgirt 100. With the exception of theorientation, the hidden rib joint 102 is identical to the standing ribjoint 92 (FIG. 5). In the hidden rib joint 102, the first and secondupstanding flange portions 50C and 66D (FIG. 7) are disposed insubstantially abutted relation. A relatively undiscernible crack or seam104 separates the marginal valleys 38C, 40D of the panels 20C, 20D. Thehidden rib joint 102 also includes the means 94 for interlocking thefirst and second channels 42C, 58D.

Alternative embodiments Alternative embodiments of the present marginalconnecting means and of the rib joints formed thereby are illustrated inFIGS. 8 to 13, inclusive. Corresponding numerals will be employed toidentify corresponding parts heretofore described.

FIG. 8 illustrates a building panel 106 having first and second marginalconnecting means 28, 30 comprising the first and second upstandingU-shaped channels 42, 58, respectively. In this embodiment, the firstchannel 42 includes a first strip 108 having opposite edges adjoiningthe first upstanding flange portion 50 and the first inner leg 46. Thefirst strip 108 is inclined relative to the valleys 38, 40. The firststrip 108 presents an inclined shoulder 110 which extends laterally overthe marginal valley 38 and diverges outwardly from the flange portion 50away from the valley 38. As in the preferred embodiment, the free edges70 and the first strip 108 reside essentially on opposite sides of aplane 111 which extends parallel with the lateral valleys 38, 40' of thecentral pan.

FIG. 9 illustrates a standing rib joint 112 formed by interengaging thefirst and second channels 42F, 58E of the panels 106F, 106E. The firstand second channels 42F, 58E are interengaged in exactly the samemanners set forth above in the description of FIGS. 4 and 5. In thisembodiment, the second free edge 70E confronts and engages the inclinedshoulder 110F thereby interlocking the first and second channels 42F,58E to prevent disengagement thereof when the building panels 106E, 106Fare subjected to negative wind loading.

FIG. illustrates a building panel 114 including first marginalconnecting means 28 which is identical to the marginal connecting means28 of the panel 20 (FIG. 2). The building panel 114 includes secondmarginal connecting means 30 comprising a second upstanding U- shapedchannel 116. The second channel 116 includes a bight 118 and secondinner and second outer legs 120, 122. A second strip 124 has oppositeedges adjoining the second upstanding flange portion 66 and the secondouter leg 122. The second strip 124 is generally parallel with thevalleys 38, 40' and presents a shoulder 126.

In this embodiment, the shoulders 54 and 126 reside on opposite sides ofan imaginary plane indicated by the dash-dot line 128, extendinggenerally perpendicular to the first and second upstanding flangeportions 50, 66. The overall arrangement is such that when adjacentbuilding panels 114G, 114H (FIG. 11) are assembled to form a standingrib joint 134, the shoulder 126H confronts the shoulder 54G and may beengaged therewith. The confronting shoulders 54G, 126H interlock thefirst and second channels 116G, 42H, to prevent disengagement thereofwhen the building panels 114G, 114H are subjected to negative windloading.

Returning to FIG. 10, the outer face 130 of the second outer leg 122 andthe outer face 80 of the second upstanding flange portion 66 areseparated by horizontal spacing indicated at 132. The spacing 132 issubstantially equal to the spacing 76. Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 11,the first and second upstanding flange portions 50H, 66G of the ribjoint 134 are disposed in opposed substantially abutted relation.

FIG. 12 illustrates a building panel 136 having first marginalconnecting means 28 comprising a first upstanding U-shaped channel 42which is identical to the channel 42 of the building panel 20 (FIG. 2).The building panel 136 includes second marginal connecting means 30"comprising a second upstanding U-shaped channel 138. The channel 138includes a bight 140 and second inner and second outer legs 142, 144.

In this embodiment, the second inner leg 142 is joined directly to thesecond upstanding flange portion 66. That is to say, the second innerleg 142 and the first upstanding flange portion 66 comprise a singlesegment of metal adjoining the pan edge 26.

In this embodiment, the second outer leg 144 terminates in a second freeedge 146 which is spaced outwardly from the valley 40. As in thepreferred embodiment,

the free edge 146 and the first strip 52 reside on opposite sides of aplane indicated by the dash-dot line 151, and are proximate to theopposite sides of the plane 151. Also, the second inner and second outerlegs 142, 144 present outer faces 148, 150 respectively which arelaterally spaced-apart by a horizontal spacing indicated at 152. Thehorizontal spacing 152 is substantially equal to the spacing 76.

FIG. 13 illustrates a standing rib joint 154 formed by theinterengagement of the first and second channels 42K, 1381, of adjacentbuilding panels 136K, 1361. In this embodiment, the overall arrangementis such that the second free edge 146] confronts and may be engaged withthe shoulder 54K thereby interlocking the first and second channels 42K,1381. The panels 136], 136K are thereby prevented from being disengagedwhen they are subjected to negative wind loading. Moreover, the firstand second upstanding flange portions 50K, 66] are disposed in opposedsubstantially abutted relation.

The building panels 106, 114 and 136 as illustrated in FIGS. 9, 11 and13, present standing rib joints 112, 134, 154 respectively which areexposed to view. It should be understood that the building panels 106,114 and 136 may be reversed such that the rib joints thereof extendinwardly toward the supporting member and are hidden from view.

It should be noted that the various confronting segrnents of the firstand second channels also serve the important function of placing themarginal valleys 38, 40 of adjacent panels substantially in a commonplane.

When the present building panels are erected in inverted position, asshown in FIG. 7, the second channel 5 8D serves as a natural conduit fordirecting any water which may penetrate the seam 104, to a suitabledischarge point (not illustrated),

The standing or hidden rib joints of this invention are completed byassembling the first and second channels of adjacent building panels bya snap action. No post-forming or other type of field operations isrequired.

I claim: 1. In a joint between a pair of building panels arranged inside-by-side relation, said building panels having exposed faces andhidden faces and including central pans of desired profile and havingadjacent pan edges, and marginal connecting means along said adjacentpan edges for positively connecting said building panels, theimprovement in said joint comprising:

one of said marginal connecting means comprising a first upstandingU-shaped channel formed along one of said adjacent pan edges and havingspaced-apart first inner and first outer legs extending toward saidcentral pans; the other of said marginal connecting means comprising asecond upstanding U-shaped channel formed along the other of saidadjacent pan edges and residing within said first channel, said secondupstanding =U-shaped channel having a second inner leg confronting saidfirst outer leg and a second outer leg spaced-apart from said secondinner leg and confronting said first inner leg, the said legs of saidsecond channel extending toward said central pans;

said first inner leg and said second inner leg having, respectively,first and second upstanding flange portions each adjoining one of saidadjacent pan edges and disposed in opposed substantially abuttedrelation; and

means provided by said first channel and said second outer leg of saidsecond channel for interlocking said first channel and said secondchannel to prevent disengagement thereof when said building panels aresubjected to negative wind loading.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said first outer leg of said firstchannel terminates in a first free edge which is spaced outwardly fromthe contiguous central pan, said first free edge and said firstupstanding flange 7 portion defining a longitudinal opening throughwhich said second upstanding U-shaped channel is received.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for interlockingcomprises confronting segments of said first channel and said secondchannel.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for interlockingcomprises:

a strip having opposite longitudinal edges adjoining said firstupstanding flange portion and the remaining portion of said first innerleg of said first channel, said strip extending laterally over theadjoining central pan; and

said second outer leg of said second channel terminating in a secondfree edge confronting said strip.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said second free edge engages saidstrip.

6. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said first inner and saidfirst outer legs of said first upstanding U-shaped channel compriseflat, parallel elements connected by an arcuate bight which is remotefrom said central pans; and wherein:

said second inner and said outer legs of said second upstanding U-shapedchannel comprise flat, parallel elements connected by an arcuate bightwhich is positioned internally of and adjacent to the arcuate bight ofsaid first upstanding U-shaped channel.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said first and second channelsproject outwardly from said exposed faces of said building panels.

8. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said first and second channelsproject inwardly from said hidden faces of said building panels.

9. In a building panel having a central pan of desired profile andmarginal connecting means along the opposite longitudinal sides of saidcentral pan, the improvement in said marginal connecting meanscomprising:

first and second upstanding flange portions along the oppositelongitudinal sides of said central pan;

a first strip adjoining said first upstanding flange portion andextending laterally inwardly thereof over said central pan;

a first upstanding U-shaped channel having spacedapart first inner andfirst outer legs, said first inner leg adjoining said strip, said firstouter leg terminating in a free edge spaced outwardly from said firstupstanding flange portion; and

a second upstanding U-shaped channel having spacedapart second inner andsecond outer legs, said second inner leg adjoining said secondupstanding flange portion, and said second outer leg terminating in afree edge spaced outwardly from said second up standing flange portion;

said second upstanding U-shaped channel being adapted to fit within thefirst upstanding U-shaped channel of an adjacent building wall panel;

said free edge of said second outer leg and said first strip residing onopposite sides of a plane extending parallel with said central pan andproximate to the opposite sides of said plane, whereby when the firstand second upstanding U-shaped channels of adjacent ones of saidbuilding panel are interengaged, the free edge of the second channelconfronts the first strip of the first channel to prevent disengagementof the first and second channels.

10. The improvement of claim 9 including:

a second strip having opposite longitudinal edges adjoining said secondinner leg and said second upstanding flange portion and extendinglaterally inwardly of said second upstanding flange portion over saidcentral pan.

11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein the first said strip is inclinedrelative to said first upstanding flange portion.

12. The improvement of claim 11 wherein said second strip is inclinedand has a slope opposite that of the first said strip.

13. The improvement defined in claim 9 wherein said first inner andfirst outer legs of said first upstanding tU-shaped channel compriseflat, parallel elements connected by an arcuate bight which is remotefrom said central pan; and wherein said second inner and second outerlegs of said second upstanding U-shaped channel comprise flat, parallelelements connected by an arcuate bight which is remote from said centralpan.

1 4. The improvement defined in claim 9 wherein the distance between theouter faces of said first upstanding flange portion and said first innerleg is substantially equal to the'distance between the outer faces ofsaid second upstanding flange portion and said second outer leg, wherebywhen the first and second upstanding U-shaped channels of adjacent onesof said building panel are interengaged, the first and second upstandingflange portions thereof will be disposed in opposed substantiallyabutted relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,159,136 5/1939 Delk 52-5222,847,099 8/ 1958 Gruber 52-483 3,127,962 4/1964 James 52522X 3,394,5157/1968 Widdowson 52-394 FOREIGN PATENTS 251,978 6/1964 Australia 52-5881,467,162 12/1965 France 52-542 1,507,634 11/1967 France 52-5881,018,802 2/1966 Great Britain 52-542 JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary ExaminerS. D. BURKE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

